The terms "personality" and "temperament"
are synonymous to most people. When we use these
terms, we are referring to the predictable patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. There are
many theories about personality types. The DISC Model is simple to understand, easy to
remember, and practical to apply.

Understanding our active or passive roles (extroverts and introverts) helps us identify our specific
temperament styles. By combining these two different categories of influences, along with our task
and people-orientations, we end up with four specific types.

What is DISC?

D- Active/Task - oriented

• Dominating

• Directing

• Demanding

• Determined

• Decisive

• Doing

I- Active/People - oriented

• Inspiring

• Influencing

• Inducing

• Impressing

• Interactive

• Interested in people

C- Passive/Task - oriented

• Cautious

• Competent

• Calculating

• Compliant

• Careful

• Contemplative

S- Passive/People - oriented

• Steady

• Stable

• Shy

• Security-oriented

• Servant

• Submissive

• Specialist

You have a predictable pattern of behavior because you have a specific personality. There are
four basic personality types. These types, also known as temperaments, blend together to
determine your unique personality. They help you understand why you often feel, think, and act
the way you do.

Understanding the four-quadrant model of basic human behavior often explains why
people do what they do. These insights can make the difference between right and wrong
responses, and the best or worst behavior in any situation.

Needs to Learn: You need people - Relaxation is not a crime - Some
controls are needed - Everyone has a boss - Self-control is most important - To focus on finishing well
is important - Sensitivity to people's feelings is wise

Respond Best To Leader Who: Is fair and is also a friend -
Provides social involvement - Provides recognition of abilities - Offers rewards for risk-taking

Needs to Learn: Time must be managed - Deadlines are important -
Too much optimism can be dangerous - Being responsible is more important than being popular - Listening
better will improve one's influence

There are four basic personality types known as D, I, S, and C behavior. Everyone is a blend or
combination of these four
temperaments. No type is better than the other. No one has a bad personality. The most important factor
is what you do with
your personality. Don't let your personality control you; instead learn how to control your personality.

Controlling yout Behavioral Blend/s

When we discover our personality types, we can recognize the
specific areas in which we need to improve. The following are admo-
nitions and challenges to help you focus on becoming more balanced.
These points apply to all of us, but they are especially pertinent in our
areas of weakness and need.

"It can make the difference in happiness and sorrow
. . . success and failure in life."

Are you a Transactional or Transformational Leader?

According to many authorities on leadership
there are "two fundamental types of leaders; the
transactional and the transformational leader.

Transactional leaders engage in an exchange
process with followers; 'If you do this, I'll give you
that'. Transformational leadership, by contrast,
gets people to do far more than they themselves
expect they can do."

Transactional leadership is more contingent
upon rewards. There's a contract exchange of
rewards for tasks. There are promises of
rewards for good performance. Accomplishments
are recognized. There's a transaction between the
leader and the follower.

Most people believe —
"Leaders are not born. They are made!"

But it is probably more accurate to say —
"Everyone is born with the innate
ability to become a leader!"

DISC Learning Styles

According to Cynthia Tobias' book, THE WAY THEY LEARN,
there are four basic learning styles: Concrete, Abstract, Sequential,
and Random. There are also three ways we remember. She adds,
"Learning styles researchers Walter Barbe and Raymond Swassing
present three modes of sensory perception (ways of remembering)
that we all use in varying degrees." These "modalities" (auditory,
visual, and kinesthetic) affect everyone's learning styles.

Every leader should discover their auditory, visual, or kines-
thetic / feeling styles in order to help communicate better with their
followers and fellow leaders. It is not always their follower's fault
when things are misunderstood. It is every leader's responsibility
to work with others to know how they learn best.

Neurolinguistic Programing

Neurolinguistic Programing (NLP) is the unique way our
minds often process what we say and hear. The following in-
sights are simple observations of how people verbally share their
thoughts, plus how people perceive what they hear.

Everyone processes what they experience through their
unique senses. There is no normal right or wrong way of
processing what we hear. Some leaders can intuitively “read
between the lines” of those who are silently hurting, while other
leaders are better able to say just the right words at the right time.

The problem is that we tend to lean toward and be controlled
by our specific NLP. Under pressure and stress we lean toward
our strengths, because that’s where we are most comfortable and
confident. But the overuse of a strength can become an abuse
and the best thing about us can become the worst.

How To Handle Conflicts

Often, the greatest hindrances to healthy relationships
are personality conflicts. Positive individuals, desiring to
build good relationships, are often discouraged because of
misunderstandings and clashes with others.

This section is designed to help you discover why people
do what they do under pressure and why you may conflict
with others. Life's success principles on how to handle
clashes are clear. The problem is many people are not
aware of their "sensitive spots." Everyone needs to learn
more about avoiding and resolving conflicts.